Rail joint



Dec. 29, 1931. N, G. FRANKUN 1,838,821

RAIL JOINT Filed Oct. l1, 1930 24 Y i. 'A n [E 7 i?? A52? IV 42 43 44 6 627 l ,ff 4 39 40 30 32 3/.42 2 gli 25 $792' glmllllmm 5/ INVENTQR. ,4 /8 5 7 50 /5 '8 40 A TTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 29, 1931 UNITED STATES -NED G. FRANKLIN, F MOBILE, ALABAMA.

RAIL JOINT .Application led October 1l, 1930. Serial No. 488,009.

My invention relates to rail joints, the present invention being an improvement on the rail joint described in Patent No. 1,630,063 issued to me on May 24, 1927, in whichA a rail joint is formed by a pair of plates engaging opposite sides of lail ends, and the plates are locked together by sector shaped members rotated into locking position.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide an improved locking connection for the plates which permits easier application and simpler construction and yet securely retains the plates in locked position.

ln accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I have provided improved details of construction, the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a rail joint embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a similar view from the opposite I side of the joint looking upwardly toward the underside of the rails.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the plates W and one of the locking or key members, the

parts being shown inspaced relation.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view through the rail joint.

Referring in detail to the, drawings:

1 and 2 designate the abutting ends of two rails forming a joint of the usual character and secured in 'alignment by plate members 3 and 4 engaging the sides and bottoms of the rails.

The plate member 3 has a ribbed web porvtion 5 engaging the web portions of the rails, an integral laterally and outwardly extending portion 6 at the base of the portion 5 for engaging the upper side of the outer rail flange 7 of the rails 'an integral vertical portion 8 at the edge o the portion 6 for engaging the outer edge of the ilange, and a horizontal base portion 9 extending across the' bottom of the railsas shown in Fig. 4. The horizontal portion 9 is provided along the bottom face adjacent its free edge with a recessed portion 10 grooved adjacent the shoulder 11 formed thereby to provide a hook shaped flange 12 for engagement with the 50- other plate member 4 as later described.

/ The member 4 has a vertical ribbed web portion 13,v an inclined laterally extending portion 14 for engaging the top of the inner rail flange and an integral vertical portion 15 for engaging the inner edge of the flange complementary to similar portions of the other rail member 3.

' Extending inwardly .along the lower edge of the vertical portion 15 and received in the recessed portion 10 of the plate member 3 is a. horizontal flange portion 16 having a longitudinally extending rib'17 forming a hooklike flange for engaging in the recess and forming a groove 18 for the hooked flange 12 of the plate 3. The plates are thus locked together by the hooked anges and the bottom portions of the plates are positioned in the same plane for resting firmly on a tie or the like 19.

The ribbed portions of the plates are provided with bolt openings 20 and 21 aligning with similar openings 22 in the rails for receiving bolts 23 for securing the plates to the web portion of the rails.

The plates are thus locked laterally of the rails by the bolts and the vinter-engaging hook-like flanges and in order to lock the plates vertically of the rails the upper edge of the outer plate 3 is provided with an offset portion 24 providing a seat 25 for engaging snugly under the head portions 26 of the rails and a vertical iange portion 27 for engaging the outer side of the heads while the ribbed portion 13 of the other plate terminates against the underside of the rail heads as best shown in Fig. 4.

In order to lock the plate members in parallel alignment I provide the key members 28 and 29 for engaging the plates to lock them against independent longitudinal movement as now described.

The ends of the horizontal portion of the member 3 are formed at an acute angle and are ,provided with a groove 31 spaced from and extending'substantia-lly parallel with the edges to provide ahook-like flange 32rxextending angularly with relation to the rails.

The corners of the horizontal portion 9 adjacentits free edge are provided with stop shoulders as at 33 and 34, and the ends of the horizont-al portion 14 of the plate 4 are notched as at 37 and 38 to accommodate the key members nowdescribed.

The key members comprise wedge shaped body portions 39 having straight outer sides 40 to square the ends of the base portions of the plates and angularly extending inner sides 41 complementary to the angular cut of the base portion 9 of the plate 3 and they are also provided with downwardly rojecting ribs 42 adjacent the sides 4 and a 'gning grooves 43 to form hook-like flanges complementary to the hook-like vflanges on the horizontal portion of the plate 3. The wedges are also provided with vertical portions 44 complementary to the vertical portion 15 of the plate 4 and inclined lips 45 extending inwardly over the flanges of the rails to fill out the recesses 37 and 38. The inner ends 46 of the lips and the adjacent edges 47 of the recesses are formed at angles complementary to the angle of the inner sides of the wedges and the inner corners of the wedges are shouldered as at 48 to engage against shoulders 33 and 34 as shown in Fig. 2.

The inner vertical edges of the wedges and the adjacent vertical edges of the plate 4 are notched as at 49 and 50 to provide a groove for receiving a spike 51 for securing the joint on the tie and preventing accidental Withdrawal of the keys after they have been inserted.

The keys being provided with tapered sides and hook-like flanges for engaging the plate 3 retain the plate 4 in locked engagement therewith since the lips of the flanges engage in the recesses and against the adjacent edges of the plate. The keys also engage against the extensions of the plate 4 to help retain the plate in rail engaging position.

In some cases it may be desirable to provide for inward inclination of the rails and this may be accomplished by tapering the horizontal portion 9 of the plate 3 as shown in Fig. 4.

In assembling the joint the plate 3 is placed in position against the outer face of the abutting rails and the plate 4 is placed against the.

inner side of the rails with the hooked flange aligned with the hooked flange of the member 3.

The plate 4 is then slid longitudinally into alignment with the plate 3 and the bolts 23 are inserted through the openings 20 and 21 in the plates and the openings 22 in the rails,

after which the nuts are applied to clamp,

the rails together.

The keys are then inserted by driving them directly into position and the spikes 51 are driven into the ties to anchor the rails and retain the keys from displacement.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a rail joint, a pair of plate members,

each including a base portion, and a wedgeshaped key member having a hook-like flange to interlock with the base portion of one of the plate members and a lip portion for engaging the base portion of the other plate member to lock the plate members together.

2. In a rail joint a pair of plate members, each including a base portion and one of the base portions having a diagonally extending hook-like flange, a wedge-shaped key member having a hook-like flange for interlocking with the hook-like flange on said base portion, and means on the key for engaging the other plate member for locking the plate members together.

3. A rail joint for connecting a pair of rails comprising a pair of plate members having flange portions extending around the bases of the rails to be connected, and extending toward each other for inter-engagement with each other, and wedge-shaped key members engaging one of said plate members and having hook-like flanges for engaging the other plate member.

4. A rail joint for connecting a pair of rails, comprising a plate including a flange portion for engaging the base flanges of the rails and having angularly extending ends provided with hook-like flanges, a complementary plate member having recesses at its ends, key members having hook-like flanges for engaging said hook-like flanges on the first plate member and lips for engaging in the recesses of the second plate member to lock the plates together.

5. A rail joint connection for connecting a pair of rails, comprising plate members including flange portions for engaging the base flanges of the rails and having interlocking flanges, the flange portion of one of the plate members having angularly extending ends and hook-like flanges thereon, and the other plate member having recesses in line with the angularly extending ends of the other plate member and key members having hook-like flanges for engaging said hook-like flanges on the angularly extending ends and lips for engaging in said recesses to lock the plate members together.

6. A rail joint for connecting a pair of rails comprising a pair of plate members hav ing rail engaging portions and integral base portions provided with interengaging hooklike flanges to secure the base portions together, and a wedge-shaped key having interlocking engagement with one of the plate members for securing the plate members to the rails, said key being located adjacent the ends of said plate members.

7. A rail joint for connecting a pair of rails comprising a pair of plate members having rail engaging portions and integral base portions provided with interengaging hooklike flanges to secure the base portions togeher, means for securing the plate members to the rails including a wedge member having interlocking engagement with one of the.

plate members for locking the base portions against relative longitudinal movement, and

means extending along one edge of said wedge member for engaging a rail ange.

In testimony whereof I aiix my si NED G. FRA

ature. IN. 

